Barcelona wrapped up a 27th LaLiga title on Sunday with a memorable 4-2 win at Espanyol in the Catalan derby at RCDE Stadium.
Robert Lewandowski scored twice while defenders Alejandro Balde and Jules Kounde each netted their first league goals as the Blaugrana were crowned champions for the first time since 2019.
Javier Puado and Joselu pulled late goals back for Espanyol but the defeat leaves them mired in trouble at the other end of the table, four points from safety with just four games to go.
It is also Barcelona’s first title since Lionel Messi left the club in 2021 and signed with Paris Saint-Germain.
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Rapid reaction
1. Xavi leads Barca to title at home of crosstown rivals
Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez insisted before the game that he did not care where the title was clinched, the important thing was to win it, but he admitted it would be sweet for supporters to get over the line at the home of their local rivals.
A 1-1 draw at Spotify Camp Nou in December suggested Barca would not have things all their own way at Espanyol and that looked true when Joselu struck wide in the first minute. Things quickly unravelled for the home side from there, though, against a Barca team fresh from five days off and keen to win the first league trophy of the Xavi era.
Robert Lewandowski opened the scoring in the 11th minute, turning home his 20th LaLiga goal of the campaign after good work from Alejandro Balde, who added the second in the 20th minute when he connected with Pedri‘s cross. Frenkie de Jong and Raphinha then combined to set Lewandowski up for this second just before the break.
De Jong brilliantly set Jules Kounde up fo Barca’s fourth in the 53rd minute, which appeared to be the signal for Barca to switch off. Javi Puado, after several warnings, eventually grabbed a consolation for Espanyol with Joselu adding another in injury time — but there was to be no miracle as Xavi became the fifth person to win the league as a player and coach at Barca, following Josep Samitier, Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola and Luis Enrique.
